If you just walked up to the cashier's cage to cash a check for the first time, I can understand that you might have encountered their typical "rules" - but if you ask to speak to someone about how you can be better served to get larger amounts of cash when needed, someone at a higher level should be able to help you out. Even if you need to talk to a VIP host to get things worked out, they should be able to do something for you.
Personally, I've always carried large amounts of cash to casinos (not so much now that I'm retired, and not so much now that my gambling is more on weekend or day trips to riverboats instead of 5-6 day visits to Vegas, and definitely not so much now that I play VP and live poker instead of high stakes blackjack), and as soon as I check into my hotel, I would get a safe deposit box and put most of it in the box. Sometimes I don't see the box again until I check out, sometimes I put some more into it, and sometimes I need to take some out, of course.
I've obtained a casino line of credit once, and while I didn't prefer using the "markers" over just using my cash, it worked just fine for me. I did this because I was given the impression that you get better comps by using markers, but I'm not convinced that's the case today, when they can track your action so well by other means. Although I repaid the markers with cash, my understanding is that you can repay the markers with a check; I don't know if there's a fee attached to that transaction. The line of credit is usually linked to how much you usually have in your checking account, I think, as that represents, to the casino, how much you have that's readily available to pay off your markers (again, that may have changed). I know it's easy to get a "marker" at table games, and I assume the poker room would be able to issue "markers" for buy-ins and rebuys as well -- you should ask them.
Personally, I've never registered a PIN for a credit card -- I prefer to pre-set my loss limit for a trip by only gambling with the money I bring with me -- but that's personal preference, and if you can manage your ATM withdrawals for gambling without getting into trouble (many, but not all, can do so), that's fine -- but there are of course always going to be fees and limits on the withdrawals by ATM. Getting cash via credit card or debit card directly from the casino is unlikely to be a welcome transaction.
Incidentally, does Mohegan Sun really have a 1/2 NL hold em game that requires a $6000 bankroll?!! I've only encountered one or two poker rooms allowing you to buy in for more than $200 or $300 in a 1/2 game, unless there's already a player with more chips in front of them (usually these places allow you to buy in, rebuy, or top off your stack up to 75% or perhaps 100% of the big stack at the table - but the vast majority still keep the $200 or $300 cap regardless of the stack sizes at the table). Regardless, a $6000 bankroll should not be needed for a 1/2 NL holdem game, unless you're talking about a hundred hours of play in games that really get big due to a "big stack buyin" policy.
By the way, many poker rooms also offer safe deposit boxes for their regular players, I think with no charge, where players will keep cash and/or chips relatively safely until needed again.
As for "visiting the bank", perhaps you should consider keeping a cash bankroll for gambling at home, with a home safe of some kind. I used to do this, but in retirement, going to the bank is not a burden, so the money is safe there now, but I used to feel very comfortable with a multi-trip bankroll at home in a wall safe (now that we're in a condo, I don't have one anymore, and don't need one anymore).
--BG
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3a. Casino check cashing, gift cards, ATMs
Today, I inquired about check cashing at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs (my frequently visited local casino which offers horrid video poker).
I was told that no matter what amount I have in my checking account, I can only withdraw an amount based on my credit score...and then there are limitations about how much I can withdraw per withdrawal in a certain time period.
The ATMs, I was told, have a $4 fee and limit withdrawals to $500.
Gift cards, too, that I might use to 'transfer money' purchased using credit cards, have limitations including a 24 hour delay for use and a $300 -- if I recall correctly -- limit per month.
What experiences have others had with casino check cashing, gift cards, and even ATMs? I would like to not carry around a large sum of money into a casino should I, for instance, decide to play 1/2 NL hold em with a $6000 bankroll. It's also inconvenient to have to visit my bank beforehand...
